The Need

Networking at events can be random, inefficient, and overwhelming. For Beyond X, I wanted to make networking more intentional—helping attendees recognize and connect with relevant people ahead of time. The goal was to create a system that would allow attendees to filter participants by company and see who had already arrived, while also giving the internal team real-time insights into attendance.

Embedding Networking into the Registration Process

To enable this experience, I modified the registration form, asking attendees for permission to be featured on our networking platform. This simple change ensured that participants opted into visibility, making it easier to facilitate meaningful connections.

Data Storage & Platform Development

I structured the data using Airtable as the core database. Then, I built the front-facing networking platform on Softr, allowing attendees to:

• View all registered participants who had already arrived

• Filter attendees by company to enable more targeted networking

I also developed a private internal dashboard for the event team, which provided real-time insights, including:

• The total number of invitees who accepted the RSVP

• A live count of attendees inside the event

• A check-in feature allowing team members at the entrance to mark attendees as "arrived," which updated both the internal dashboard and the networking platform in real time

Communicating the Platform's Existence & Iterating for Optimization

Building the platform was just one part of the equation—the next challenge was ensuring attendees actually used it. To test the most effective communication method, I placed QR codes and NFC tags at different key areas, from the entrance to strategic networking spots. Each QR/NFC was tracked with a unique UTM, allowing me to analyze engagement data through Google Analytics. This process helped determine:

• Whether QR codes or NFC tags drove more interactions

• The optimal placement for maximizing engagement

These insights refined the attendee experience, making networking smoother while giving me a data-driven approach to event design for future iterations.

To ensure speed and ease of use for the entire team, I built the platform on Softr for the frontend, with Typeform handling event applications, and Airtable serving as both the core database and the source for rendering real-time data in Softr. This setup provided actionable insights into attendee behavior, optimizing future event layouts and engagement strategies.